Portable lighting systems get an upgrade, clears the way for military aircrews. @AFOSR @Team_AFRL

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (RX) junior force researchers resolved an issue of critical importance to military pilots and aircrews—portable, reliable and robust temporary landing zone lighting. Current portable landing zone lighting systems, used for temporary and semi-permanent airfields, are aging and quickly reaching the end of their functional lifetimes. The need for a quick solution was recognized by the Joint Special Operations Command, who listed the issue as one of their top five Safety of Flight capability gaps and reached out to AFRL for help. Answering the call, researchers from the Junior Force Warfighters Operations in RX, or JFWORX, program began to develop a quick-response solution. Working with JSOC, the team identified product requirements as well as warfighter needs....